Trump Campaign Denounces ‘Repulsive’ Endorsement Of KKK

Though Trump staunchly rebuked the endorsement, he's come under fire in the past for playing coy with White nationalists.

Donald Trump’s campaign released a statement Tuesday evening disavowing The Crusader’s endorsement, the official publication of the KKK, Time writes.

“Mr. Trump and the campaign denounces hate in any form. This publication is repulsive and their views do not represent the tens of millions of Americans who are uniting behind our campaign,” the statement reads.

The Crusader printed the following in a full one-page spread on Tuesday:

“While Trump wants to make America great again, we have to ask ourselves, ‘What made America great in the first place?’ The short answer to that is simple. America was great not because of what our forefathers did — but because of who our forefathers were. America was founded as a White Christian Republic. And as a White Christian Republic it became great.”

Though Trump’s campaign staunchly rebuked the endorsement, Trump has come under fire in the past for playing coy with White nationals.

His refusal to immediately rebuke KKK Grand Wizard David Duke’s endorsement earlier this year raised eyebrows and further alienated voters of color.

During a February interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, the GOP candidate told Tapper he didn’t know enough about Duke to formally denounce him.